José Andrés Offers Free Food To Govt Workers During Shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC — Renowned chef José Andrés took to Twitter Friday to offer free lunch to federal employees in Washington, D.C. who would be impacted by the government shutdown.

"And I will offer again Free Sandwiches to the poor men and women of the federal government, republicans and democrats, at every restaurant of mine in DC for lunch until they get paid again!" he said.

SEE ALSO: Government Shutdown Looming: 5 Things To Know

A deal to keep the government funded and avoid a partial shutdown before Christmas Day hit a serious roadblock on Thursday after President Donald Trump said he would not sign a stopgap funding bill that had passed in the Senate.

A bill passed in the House of Representatives later in the day included $5 billion in funding for the border wall but was unlikely to pass in the Senate. With the Senate and the House adjourned for the evening, a shutdown took effect at midnight on Friday.

During the shutdown, approximately 800,000 federal workers would be furloughed or would have to work without pay, according to a report prepared by Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Patch's Feroze Dhanoa contributed to this report.

Image via Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press